New life for Wake Co. YWCA? It's one woman's mission
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Where does a Wake County woman go when she needs financial help or help taking care of her children when they get out of school?
Raleigh's YWCA used to help with things like that, until it abruptly closed in 2012.
But now a local woman is on a mission to bring back the YWCA -- and you can help.
Olivia Mudd explains why it's important to her.
"My passion, my love for working and serving other people," Mudd said. "My passion for seeing women do great things."
As a former YWCA manager, she's determined to bring Raleigh's defunct YWCA back to life, and all the services with it.
"Educational programs, before and after school program ... racial justice and teen pregnancy prevention," Mudd said.
The last time you saw Raleigh's YWCA was in 2012. Locks were on the doors. The community was outraged that it filed bankruptcy and shut its doors on thousands of parents, children and seniors who relied on the organization for help.
"It left a void for a lot of our seniors," Mudd said. "It left a void for a lot of our young people who had an advocacy to come into YWCA for safety before and after school."
But Mudd isn't going to build a new YWCA off the past.
"We're at a new time, we're seeing things differently now and we just want to stay on a positive track to keep things moving forward for the Wake County area," Mudd said.
A new YWCA is still years away, but Mudd says it's time.
"I'm all about empowering women and children, and you think these programs really make a difference? I think they do."
A community meeting is at 6:30 p.m. tonight. It's just the first step to see if a YWCA would have community support.
The public is invited.
It's at the Treasuring Christ Church off Hargett at Swain Street in east Raleigh.
